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A CMOS-Compatible Heterogeneous 3-D Integration Platform for Silicon Nanoelectromechanical Switches
KTH, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Micro and Nanosystems.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6811-590X
KTH, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Micro and Nanosystems.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4867-0391
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, U.K.
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, U.K.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2770-8493
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2026 (English)In: IEEE Electron Device Letters, ISSN 0741-3106, E-ISSN 1558-0563, Vol. 47, no 3, p. 598-601Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches have near vertical turn-off transient, zero off-state leakage, and non-volatile behavior, ideal qualities for low power computing and memory applications. To realize this potential, large-scale integration of NEM switches is required. Here we introduce a three-dimensional (3-D) heterogeneous integration platform that leverages a standard silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS foundry process, combined with post-processing of the foundry wafers to integrate silicon NEM switches. Within this platform, we seamlessly integrated both volatile 3-terminal (3-T) and nonvolatile 7-terminal (7-T) NEM switches. We demonstrate successful electrical programming and reprogramming of both switch types, validating the platform’s functionality and its potential for constructing densely integrated NEM switch-based logic circuits and non-volatile memories.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) , 2026. Vol. 47, no 3, p. 598-601
Keywords [en]
Nanoelectromechanical switch, NEM computing, NEM memory, heterogeneous 3-D integration
National Category
Computer Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-382522DOI: 10.1109/led.2026.3655495ISI: 001716040600017Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105028225315OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-382522DiVA, id: diva2:2062937
Note

QC 20260527

Available from: 2026-05-27 Created: 2026-05-27 Last updated: 2026-05-28Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Advances in Nanoelectromechanical Switch Integration: From Device-Level Fabrication to Circuit-Level Implementation
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Advances in Nanoelectromechanical Switch Integration: From Device-Level Fabrication to Circuit-Level Implementation
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The rapid growth of data-intensive applications such as edge computing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things is pushing the limits of conventional CMOS electronics. In these systems, static leakage currents increasingly dominate power consumption. Nanoelectro-mechanical (NEM) switches are promising candidates for beyond-CMOS electronics due to their near-zero off-state leakage, abrupt switching characteristics, and robustness under extreme operating conditions, offering a route to dramatically reduce static power dissipation in future integrated circuits. However, practical NEM-based systems require scalable device architectures, reliable switch contacts, and CMOS-compatible integration strategies. This thesis addresses these challenges through the realization and integration of a CMOS-compatible NEM switch device library within commercial CMOS foundry platforms. The work investigates three complementary NEM switch architectures for logic and memory applications: a volatile three-terminal (3-T) switch, a volatile four-terminal (4-T) switch with decoupled actuation and signal paths, and a non-volatile seventerminal (7-T) switch. Building upon concepts established in earlier research within our group, the 3-T and 7-T devices are miniaturized and optimized through systematic studies of beam geometry and contact materials for low-voltage operation and improved switching behavior. A major contribution of this thesis is the optimization and experimental realization of the 4-T architecture, enabling body-bias-assisted reduction of the pull-in voltage and advanced circuit configurations. Two CMOS-compatible integration approaches are developed and experimentally validated: (1) Monolithic integration within the IMEC iSiPP50G silicon photonics SOI foundry platform, and (2) heterogeneous 3-D integration within the X-FAB XI10 SOI CMOS process. The first method enabled co-fabrication of all three NEM switch architectures on a single commercial foundry chip for the first time. Electrical characterization confirms volatile switching in the 3-T and 4-T devices, pull-in voltage reduction in the 4-T switch through body biasing, and both volatile and nonvolatile operation in the 7-T switch through contact engineering. However, in this approach, circuit scalability is limited by routing density inherent to planar integration, while Au contact stiction constrains switch reliability. The second approach addresses these limitations by vertically integrating the NEM device layer above the completed back-end-of-line (BEOL) through heterogeneously 3-D integration. This architecture alleviates routing constraints and improves device reliability using Ruthenium (Ru) switch contacts. Ru-coated devices demonstrate substantially improved cycling endurance, and a complementary inverter implemented with Ru-coated 3-T switches validates the feasibility of functional BEOL-integrated NEM circuits.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 2026. p. 161
Series
TRITA-EECS-AVL ; 2026:51
Keywords
Nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches, CMOS foundry integration, nonvolatile memory, contact reliability, wafer bonding, beyond-CMOS logic circuits
National Category
Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
Research subject
Electrical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-382596 (URN)978-91-8106-616-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-08-19, F3, Lindstedtvägen 26, Stockholm, 15:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
EU, Horizon 2020, 871740EU, Horizon 2020, 101092018
Note

QC 20260602

Available from: 2026-06-02 Created: 2026-05-28 Last updated: 2026-06-02Bibliographically approved

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Li, YingyingBleiker, Simon J.Raja, Shyamprasad N.Djuphammar, AugustGylfason, Kristinn B.Niklaus, Frank

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Li, YingyingBleiker, Simon J.Kumar Kulsreshath, MukeshTang, QiRaja, Shyamprasad N.Djuphammar, AugustGylfason, Kristinn B.Pamunuwa, DineshNiklaus, Frank
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